The Reluctant Rancher Read Online Free PDF

him.
    “ I just hope I don’t regr et this. ” H e turned to leave.
    “ You won’t, ” Mark grinned and slapped him on the back. “ I promise. ”
    “ Yeah, just like you pr omised that horse I bought off old m an Winchester was saddle broken. ”
    “ Hey, you can’t blame me for that, ” he protested. “ He just didn’t like your looks.
    “ I have to admit I had a damn fine time showing him who was boss. ” Finally Luke grinned , his bad mood lifting after speaking to his friend.
    After saying goodbye, he strode from the porch, waving one last time as he pulled from the graveled drive and headed out of town. Last night he’d decided to let his grandfather welcome Ma ry to the Circle T. He would attend the monthly cattle auction in Newport and leave the two to settle in by themselves.
    He’d taken one look at the curvy woman and felt his hard wo n control start to slip. A little time away was needed to shore up his defenses.
    “ Damnation. ” He slapped   his h and against the steering wheel. He’d be better off just keeping his distance. And this trip was the perfect beginning. Maybe this attraction to Mary was the end of his long dry spell with women. A cowboy with a pocket full of change could always find himself a good time no matter how ugly he happened to b e.
    * * * * *
      Several days later Mary woke slowly then sat up with a start.
    “ Pooh bear, ” she muttered. The time on the bedside clock read half past nine . Well past the time she should have been up and about.
    A chill permeated the early morning air even though the calendar proclaimed it to be mid-May. She boun ded from bed. Time to decide what to wear. Joseph had been most adamant about her not wearing a uniform but c l othes had been her enemy for a lo ng time. For years, the only fashion available for women of Mary’s size were shapeless garments made of polyester and gabardine. Within the last few years, d esigners had finally wised-up and started producing clothes for the plus-sized woman made of silk and satin and in beautiful flowing lines that flattered rather than fattened. But Mary didn’t have anyone in her life to care whether she wore the newer, sexier garments or not.
    She decided on a blue jogging suit . The fit wasn’t too bad and she had to admit the color made a perfect foil for her silvery hair. Catching her reflection in the mirror, s he stuck out our tongue and her image grinned back. Yes, she was what some would consider pretty, but she knew not many men looked past her generous curves. Which saddened and upset her.
    A bove anything else, she wante d to be a wife and mother. She believed with all her heart that somewhere out there , there existed a man who would love her, respect her , and cherish her until her dying day . A man who could fill the deep, aching void she felt inside. She just hadn’t met him yet. And with her luck, she thought grumpily, remembering the picture of Luke’s great-grandparents, he’d probably been born in the 1800’s and she lived in the 21st century.
    She tucked away her sad thoughts and made her way down the back stairs to the kitchen. She’d arrived at the Circle T packed for a month’s stay eager to spar with the burly rancher, only to find that Luke had left town. Joseph had welcomed her with open arms and Mary pushed aside the deep sense of disappointment.
    S he poured herself a cup of   steamy coffee and hope d the jolt of caffeine would pry her heavy eyelids apart.   Her dreams over the past few nights had been filled with a green-eyed cowboy she’d just as soon forget.
    “ Good morning, Mary. ”
    L uke’s deep voice sent shivers up and down her spine. From he r first meeting , his captivating voice had become one of her greatest weaknesses. He could probably talk about branding cattle and turn her insides to mush.
    “ Good morning, Mr. Tanner . ” She willed herself to sound and look casual as she turned to face him.
    A red checked shirt top ped a pair of faded